This guide covers everything you need to get your Nightingale dedicated server running on Legion Hosting, including first-time startup, configuration, world settings, and how players connect. For troubleshooting common issues, see Nightingale Troubleshooting.
About Nightingale
Nightingale is a gaslamp fantasy survival crafting game set in the mysterious Fae Realms. Players explore procedurally generated worlds, gather resources, build estates, craft gear, and fight creatures from Victorian-era folklore. Dedicated servers allow groups to share a persistent world that remains online even when the host is not playing.
First Start
When you first receive your Nightingale server, follow these steps to get it online:
- Log in to GPanel and select your Nightingale server.
- Navigate to the Startup tab and review the default startup variables. Set your preferred server name, password (if desired), and max players.
- Go to the Console tab and click Start.
- The server will download and install the Nightingale Dedicated Server files via SteamCMD on first boot. This may take several minutes depending on server load and download speed.
- Once the console shows the server has finished loading and is ready for connections, your server is online.
GPanel Startup Variables
Nightingale exposes key configuration options as startup variables in GPanel. Navigate to the Startup tab to view and modify these. Changes require a server restart to take effect.
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
PASSWORD |
changeme |
Password for the server. Players must enter this to join. Clear or leave empty for a public server. |
ADMIN_PASSWORD |
letmein |
Admin password. Players with this password can authenticate in-game to kick and ban other players. |
MAX_PLAYER |
6 |
Maximum number of players that can be connected simultaneously. Increasing past 6 is unsupported and may cause issues. |
Difficulty |
easy |
Starting map difficulty. Options: easy, medium, hard, extreme. |
CHEATS |
1 |
Enable the cheat/debug menu and commands. Set to 0 to disable. Players must authenticate with the admin password to use cheats in-game. |
Server Configuration File
Beyond startup variables, Nightingale uses configuration files for more detailed server settings. These can be edited via the Files tab in GPanel or through SFTP.
Finding the Config Files
Nightingale's main server configuration file is located at:
NWX/Config/ServerSettings.ini
If this file does not exist, the server creates it from NWX/Config/ExampleServerSettings.ini on first boot.
Common Configuration Options
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
StartingDifficulty |
Starting map difficulty. Overridden by the Difficulty GPanel startup variable. |
Password |
Password required to join. Leave blank for no password. Overridden by the PASSWORD startup variable. |
AdminPassword |
Password for admin/host controls. Players authenticate in-game to kick and ban. Overridden by the ADMIN_PASSWORD startup variable. |
World and Realm Settings
Nightingale features procedurally generated Fae Realms that players explore through portal mechanics. The server manages the persistent state of these realms.
World Persistence
- Player estates, built structures, and storage persist across sessions.
- Fae Realms that have been explored and modified are saved and remain available.
- Resources in the world may respawn over time based on game mechanics.
Difficulty Settings
If available in the server configuration, difficulty settings control aspects such as:
- Enemy spawn rates and aggressiveness.
- Resource gathering multipliers.
- Player health and stamina modifiers.
- Crafting requirements and costs.
How to Connect
Players can connect to your Nightingale dedicated server through the in-game server browser or by direct IP connection.
Via Server Browser
- Launch Nightingale.
- From the main menu, select Multiplayer or Join Server.
- Browse the server list or search for your server by name.
- Select your server and click Join.
- Enter the server password if one is set.
Via Direct Connect
- From the multiplayer menu, look for a Direct Connect or Join by IP option.
- Enter your server's IP address and port in the format
IP:PORT. - Your server's IP and port can be found in GPanel under the Network tab. See How to Find Your Server IP and Port for details.
- Click Connect or Join.
Save Management and Backups
Nightingale server saves contain all world data, player progress, built structures, and explored realms. Managing your saves properly is important to prevent data loss.
Save Location
Server saves are stored in the server's data directory. The exact path depends on the server configuration, but you can browse for save files through GPanel's Files tab. Look for a Saves or SaveGames directory.
Creating Backups
- Stop your server in GPanel to ensure a clean save state.
- Navigate to the save directory in the Files tab.
- Select the save folder and use the Archive option to create a .zip backup, or download the files via SFTP.
- Store the backup in a safe location outside the server.
Restoring a Backup
- Stop the server.
- Delete or rename the current save folder.
- Upload your backup save files to the same directory.
- Start the server. It will load from the restored save.
Related Articles
- Nightingale Troubleshooting — Common issues, crashes, connection problems, and performance fixes
- How to Find Your Server IP and Port
- How to Upload Files via SFTP
- Server Startup Guide — General guide for starting any game server on Legion Hosting
Need More Help?
If you are experiencing issues not covered in this guide, our support team is available to assist. Open a ticket at legionhosting.net/submitticket.php with your server details and a description of the problem.